Producing : What does a Producer look for? by Landis Stokes

Reliability more than anything else. If you say you’re going to be there – then you better d^*m well be there. When I’ve assembled a cast and crew on set – one monkey can screw up the works. It’s very unprofessional behavior that will never happen again.

What does a producer look for? In my experience, one of the first questions you ask yourself is, "Can I get this project done?" Is it the right fit for me? Do I have a strategy in place to try to realize it? Do I have the resources to realize it? It may be a cool project, but it may not be one that fits our own resources.

I look for projects that both interest me & I believe would be interesting to a large number of people; meaning great potential for ROI. I think of the long-term goals for a project; distro, festivals, TV. The more widespread & life, the better. As far as cast & crew, I look for passionate, dedicated team players. If you're an @$$, I don't want you on my set.

Quality entertainment vs cost

Jumping off of what the always insightful Regina said (which, by the way, at the indie level is 100% true), I would add that one of the first questions I ask myself is: "is this something I want to spend the next two to five years of my life on?" Whether it's something you're considering developing from a pitch, a treatment or some other source material, or a script that comes in fully-formed, the development period can often be a long time - a time during which, I might add, as a producer you're almost always not getting paid... knowing whether the work truly moves you, is worthy of your time and a story worth telling, for me, is a huge part of the equation. So, in a way, they all have to be passion projects for me. Also, since we're on the topic of what a producer looks for, this is a good time to mention my Stage32 Class on Development - including an answer to your question - that is coming up in a little over a week: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Development-Defining-The-Producer-Writer...

I love Regina's and Shaun's comments. The can-do factor is everything. But also it has to be something that I connect with, it has to be up my alley.

Also what Doug said - communication and reliability. People who email you back and text you back. The ability to compromise. Did you see Project Greenlight? The director on that was a producer's nightmare - insisting on shooting on film on a low-budget feature, his first, for example.

Not to call anyone out, but one doesn't get into indie film (and stay for any amount of time past your first film) if they're all about the bottom line, so I'll have to beg to differ with Steven Harris Anzelowitz... while good money can certainly be made, there are no guarantees and, as Goldman once said, "nobody knows anything." My advice, if you're in this business to make money - at least at the start when you're building your reputation and track record - would be to find another business.

Steven, I hope I didn’t read what I just read. The film industry is in a major evolutionary cycle right now; the old Hollywood dinosaur is getting a little wobbly in the knees with all these little upstart Indie Filmmakers scurrying about. So forget about those grand and glorious days of yesteryear and take aim at the future. Now I’m not sure just what the future filmmaking will look like (I’m working on it) but I suspect that we’ll see some sort of art-house revival. We already have three in my hometown (one is a small time pub movie house). The film industry may once again grow to something behemoth but not in my or my grand children’s lifetime. The only thing I can say is that if you approach the new filmmaking field with a mercenary motive, then I believe you’re in the wrong play my friend. p.s. I have a little cable show – haven’t made a cent yet and don’t expect to.

Steven - Respectfully... I didn't write that I didn't "want to call anyone out." That would have been odd since, as you noted, I WAS calling you out. What I wrote was: "not to call anyone out," meaning that my intention was not to start a comment war or undercut anyone who took the time to comment... I used that turn of phrase specifically because I couldn't very well reference (and, more pointedly, disagree with) your comment without, well... referencing (and disagreeing with) your comment. Your new comment, and my understanding of your first comment, makes it sound like you've gotten burned by producers. No shock there. The business is top-heavy with unscrupulous people and those who prey on writers. It's no secret that writers get the shaft on a daily basis... In fact, if your experience is that producers "look for" ways to make money without regard for creative concerns, then again, I'm not surprised and am sorry you've had to deal with some shitty producers, but I think it's clear from the comments of producers like Regina and I that MAKING MONEY is the least of our concern when considering whether to take on a project - though being able to raise money for production is obviously a factor. It might be worthwhile for you to note my earlier comment in the thread, but I'll sum it up here: I have never looked for a script to get rich from. I've never read a script thinking, "this is the one! If I get this made I'll be King of the World!" No. For me it's always, "is this something I love and would want to take on for an extended period of time? Is it original? What is the writer saying and can I effectively support and develop that vision? Could I fundraise for this?" etc. Finally, I also wasn't suggesting that YOU find another business - after all, I didn't know anything about you (I do now since you volunteered your age and NY Showbiz background)... rather, I was merely stating my opinion that if someone is striving to make a career in film in order to get rich... well, one would have to be a fool. Too many variables. I hope you are able to come into contact with some people who are in this for more than money and that you're able to get some of your work up on a screen if you haven't already. Best of luck to you.

Yeah, to Shaun's point, imagine if someone offered to give you 100,000 acres of barren land. If you put in a ton of work, sweat equity, and/or resources to working that land, it could turn a big profit for you in a few years. But do you have the time, passion, and resources to work that land? It's hard work. The land, like scripts, could contain easier soil to till, or stonier soil to till. And you, the farmer/builder, have only FINITE resources. Do you choose that plot of land as your investment? Another plot? There are opportunities costs and/or hard costs involved.

Steven, We all come to the table with certain opinions, beliefs and notions – some more/less valid than others. I see this public forum as a wonderful opportunity for me to learn from others and share what knowledge I have. I do occasionally make some brash statements – but they come from the heart. Popular or not – I leave them out there to stimulate discussion and learn from others. But I see that you deleted your post. Why?

Shaun- Thank you for your clarity. I have not been "burned " by a producer. I was doing my best to answer the lead thread. I do try to stay positive. Or at least respond with a sense of humor to a lead thread. Doug- I just felt it was necessary to remove something that was generating too much negative commentary.

Steven – as a country boy, I'm a little slow at times – please forgive me. Now that I've moved on to my Producer's chair (I still love writing), I look at Indie film-making with a slightly different bent. The original post has to do with what a Producer looks for. I look for reliable people – training we can get on set. One other thing that's important to me is people with reasonable expectations – team players. You raised a valid point in that you seem to be driven by some monetary motive but my point (observation) is that there is only limited pecuniary remuneration available to the Independent filmmaker at this time. I see this as a valid topic of discussion – don't you?

Thank you everyone for sharing your comments, epxerience, and insight! It's invaluable to me as a growing filmmaker. I am grateful.